Survey Finds Occupation, Education Influenced N.Y. Jewish Review Board Voting

A scientifically selected random sampling of 374 white registered voters in Brooklyn, commissioned by the American Jewish Committee, on their support of, or opposition to, the establishment of a police civilian review board in New York in 1966 showed that occupation and education were frequently decisive factors as to the position taken by Jewish voters. Only 22 percent of the Jews polled, as compared to 54 percent of the Catholics, had ties with the police. “Highly educated professionals among the Jews overwhelmingly supported the board,” the study disclosed,” “while poorly educated low-income Jewish voters strongly opposed it.”

In a foreword to the report, Daniel P. Moynihan, special adviser to President Richard M. Nixon on urban problems, pointed out that liberals consistently overlook the “reality” that class, rather than race or religion, frequently influences attitudes on crime, the police and related matters. He said that opposition to the review board was not significantly attributable to race hatred but to concern over crime. The report. “Police, Politics and Race,” was published today by the AJCommittee and the Joint Center for Urban Studies of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University. The study was conducted by Dr. David W. Abbott of Brooklyn College, assisted by 50 Brooklyn College students.